DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN

NERVOUS TISSUE

DR. DURGESH UPADHYAY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, MG KASHI VIDYAPITH,
VARANASI
BACKGROUND

• Given the complexity of the central nervous system (CNS), the study of human
brain development is a major challenge, which can only partially be addressed
by extrapolation from animal experiments.
• Direct functional studies of human brain development are extremely difficult
for ethical reasons. Thus, relevant in vitro models of human brain
development are needed.
• The potential of human embryonic stem cells (ESC) to provide such models
has been readily recognized; however, so far studies have focused on cellular
development and not on tissue formation.
INTRODUCTION

• During embryogenesis, the CNS develops from neural progenitor cells (NPC) within the
ectodermal germ layer.
• NPC are specified in space and time, becoming heterogeneous and generating a
progressively restricted repertoire of mature neural cell subtypes [1]. The CNS originates as a
sheet of cells made up of primary NPC, also referred as neuroepithelial cells. The latter
forms the neural tube, easily discernable in humans by the end of the third week of
gestation [2, 3].
• The evolving neural tube is a germinative center containing NPC that self-renew and
produce both neurons and glia.
• The neural tube germinative activity progressively decreases during development, the latter
being replaced by the ventricular system and spinal canal.
CONTD.

• Low numbers of NPC persist into the adult brain in the subventricular zone and
the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus.
• NPC in the evolving neural tube are radially oriented and contact both the apical
(ventricular) and basal surfaces.
• During brain development, they divide symmetrically or asymmetrically at the
ventricular surface, forming a germinative center that produces radially neurons
and glia.
• By the onset of neurogenesis, neuroepithelial cells are progressively replaced by
radial glial cells [6]. Radial glial cells divide in the evolving ventricular zone and
produce neurons and glia.
CONTD.

• NPC can be derived in vitro from ESC and can be expanded in the presence of growth
factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF),
or leukemia inhibitory factor. Subsequently, they can be differentiated toward
mature neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes through treatment with externally
added factors.
• A fraction of ESC-derived NPC spontaneously organize in vitro into rosettes; these
neurogenic structures are suggested to share some similarities with the neural tube.
• However, with the techniques applied so far, differentiation of NPC does not lead to
a dense neuronal tissue; rather, the NPC grow as highly heterogeneous neural cell
cultures.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-ZjcxQY6Bs
The development of the nervous system

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp25wrm-AoA
2-Minutes Neuroscience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmqvOUBh2cc
Embryology/Neurology - Neurogenesis [Animation]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA1Gv3oyotA
Prenatal Brain Development